Collapsible tube.



F. F. B. CHAPMAN.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE. APPLICATION FILED F'EB. 24. |91?.

1,242,654. Patented oet. 9,1917.-

/ /v VEN TUR l rr a;

. n I. F. B. CHAPMAN, OF WINCHESITEB.,IMASSACHUSETTS.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oat. e, fiera Application led February 24, 1917.- i Serial N o. 150,684.

ing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of 'Massachusetts have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Tubes, of which the following.

is a speciication.

lThis invention relates to a tube for holding and dispensing liquid materials, the tube being provided with a collapsible body, made of thin sheet metal or metallic alloy, and arigid head formingone end of the tube and including a rigid neck constituting an outlet through which liquid is forced when collapsing pressure is exerted on the body of the tube.

The invention has tor its object to provide a tube of this character adapted to contain thin, freely flowing liquids, such as liquid bluing, for laundry use, to insure a slow and'regulated discharge of the liquid and to prevent leakage and evaporation of the liquid fwhen the same is not under pressure, without depending on an external cap or closure to prevent such leakage and evapo'ration.

The invention is'embodied in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

lOf the accompanying drawings forming a part vof this specification,-

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a collapsible tube embodying the invention. A

Fig. 2` is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing Athe diaphragm hereinafter described, in its normal position.

of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the diaphragm distended.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to F1 3,

" showing dierent forms of liquid-tight joints.

The' same reference-characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of the figures.

The body 12 of'my improved tube 1s of the usual lcollapsible construction, and is provided at one end .with a rigid head, which includes arigid breast portion 13 and a rigid tubularneck 14, the lbore of which constitutes an outlet through which the contents of the tube are ejected, the body 12 being a thin-walled cylinder composed of a suitable ductile metal or alloy, and adapted to be filled at its lower end, said end being closed in the usual manner after the tube hasv been lled.

15 represents a flexible diaphragm, composed of a thin circular sheet of elastic rubber, having a vent 16 formed by penetrating the diaphragm, without' removing any o the material thereof. When the' diaphragm is in a flat condition the vent 16 `is contracted andclosed, so that the liquid contents of the tube, when not under pressure, cannot pass through the vent..I

1 The larea of the diaphragm than the cross-sectional area of the boreof cured tothe ri id head, in such manner as to is greater. I

form a liquid-tlght joint between the margin of the diaphragm and the head, so that the only outlet for the liquid is through the vent.

In the embodiment of the invention shown I by Figs; 1 to 5', the said-,liquid-tight joint is created by forming an annular recess 17, the inner end of the neck portion of the the marginal portion d though no't under tension, the marginal cony finement of the diaphragm preventing sidewise displacement of the central portion of 4the diaphragm by the charge of liquid,

when the: latter is not under pressure, so that if the tube were inverted or laid on its side, thereiwould be no leakage through-the vent 16. -Wl1en, however, the body gof the A tube is compressed and pressure is exerted on the contained liquid, the pressure bulges the diaphragm outwardy and distends the vent` 16, as'indicated by Figs. 4 and 5, so

that there is a limited flow of liquid through A the vent. The flow is regulatedby the` vent which prevents an excessive or undesirably rapid How, a resultwhich is very desirable in dispensing liquid bluing, a'small quantity ofvwhich is sucient to tint a large body ot water.

'lhe location of the diaphragm at the in' ner end portion, of the neck 14E enables the neck to serve as a guard for the diaphragm, preventing liability or' the accidental inward lexure of the diaphragm and the .opening of the vent by Contact with an external object should the tube be laid on its side while the outer endet the neck is open or uncovered.

rlFhe neck may be provided with a suitable cap or cover 21, the chief `function of which is to close the neck while the tube is in storage, and before it is used. 'llhe cap may be permanently discarded when the tube is ready for use. l s

ln the modiicaton shown by Fig. 6, the neck is reduced and its outer end forms an external seat 22, between which and f a flanged clamping-ring 23 the bent marginal portion'of the diaphragm l5 is clamped.

lt `is obvious that the diaphragm may be `provided with4 more than one vent, iii deconstitutes an. annular seat, to which the narrante marginal portion of the diaphragm is'united by said confining means. v

ln each embodiment of the invention shown by the drawings, the diaphragm is maintained normally Hat by marginal conning means forming a liquid-tight joint at the margin of the diaphragm, the diaphragm forming a closure adapted normally to seal the tube against the escape of liquid, and permitting a regulated discharge of liquid only through the vent when collapsing pressure is exerted on the tube.

ll claim:

A collapsible tube havinga rigid head including a tubular neck constituting the outlet of the tube, a continuous annular seat surrounding said outlet, a' flexible diaphragm having an area exceeding the crosssectional area v4ol: said outlet, and confining means positively securing the marginal por'- tion of the diaphragm to said seat to form a liquid-tight joint surrounding the outlet, and maintaining the diaphragm normally iiat, said diaphragm having a vent which is formed by penetrating the diaphragm without removing material therefrom, whereby the vent is closed when the diaphragm is flat, said kdiaphragmconstituting a closure adapted normally to seal the tubev against the escape of liquid, 'and permitting a regulated discharge ont' liquid' only through said vent when collapsing pressure is exerted on the tube.- l

ln testimony whereof ll have axed my signature. v n

FRANK F. B. CHAPMAN.

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